Harris ‘will definitely play’ vs. Vandy

Auburn Tigers forward Tyler Harris (12) looks to shoot the ball during the Bulldogs game at Stegeman Coliseum against the Auburn University in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Feb. 06, 2016.(Photo: Emily Selby/Georgia athletics/)

AUBURN – Compared to rest Auburn’s luck in terms of injuries, Tyler Harris’ back issue is considered a bonus.

The 6-foot-10 graduate transfer left the Tigers' 71-45 loss at Tennessee on Tuesday with 11:56 remaining due to reoccurring back spasms. Harris’ back has had spasm issues since he experienced problems during Auburn’s 74-63 loss to Oklahoma State on Jan. 30.

Since Auburn (9-14, 3-8 SEC) has been forced to play 6-foot-7, 250-pound Cinmeon Bowers at point guard due to the saga that ended with Kareem Canty leaving the program, Harris stands now as Auburn’s only low post offensive threat. Harris is averaging 14.3 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per contest.

“We’re talking about a muscle spasm and cramping as opposed to a muscle injury,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “He was better yesterday. He did not practice. He went through the walk through and he was on the bike.”

Pearl said Friday that he anticipated Harris would practice a day before the Tigers are set to host Vanderbilt (14-10, 6-3) for a 5 p.m. tipoff Saturday at Auburn Arena but the Providence transfer “will definitely play” against Commodores.

“When does the spasm come back if it does?” Pearl said when asked about his concern for Harris. “He’s at no risk to injury so we expect Tyler to be close to 100 percent.”

If Harris is able to play, Auburn will dress eight scholarship players Saturday as they continue to play without guards Tahj Shamsid-Deen, T.J. Dunans, Danjel Purifoy and now Canty.

Harris’ issue gets magnified due to Vanderbilt being able to throw three different 7-foot options at Auburn’s frontcourt throughout the evening and the Tigers already dealing with a depth issue due to various circumstances.

One of Vanderbilt’s 7-foot options had a career night against Auburn in its 75-57 victory in Nashville on Jan. 12. Commodores junior forward Luke Kornet had 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in Memorial Gymnasium for the second triple-double in the program’s history.

Vanderbilt leads the nation in three-point field goal defense by holding opponents to 27.8 percent and Auburn’s only scoring weapon seems to be from beyond the three-point arc. In its last eight games, Auburn has attempted 28 three point shots per game and has been unable to find much offense since losing Canty.

“At this point, we move forward and we try to find some offense against the best field-goal percentage team in the league and the best three-point field-goal percentage team in the country and a team that blocked about a gazillion bajillion of our shots at Vanderbilt,” Pearl said.